End of an Era

I would speculate that it will be another unit development, although you wouldn’t get more than 2 or 3, I had figured the bike shop would be put up for lease, i may of seen a lease sign but not something i paid much attention too, although it always seemed quiet as a business. I don’t see another cafe being opened as it is close to units! I was thinking today actually what the long term effects would be as their would be traces of petrol etc in the ground?, therefore would that make the block uninhabitable for residential purposes? would people buy a property on an ex service station block?

Glad to see that suburban servos can bring forth so many memories and nostalgia for service and small business. Thanks for all the responses and posts.

@poetix – I appreciate it … you’re out there alright but I’m thinking you already have an inlking of that 😉

@Bramina – we can only hope! Another cafe for Lyneham Shops … bring it! 🙂

buzz819 said :

JC said :

Holden Caulfield said :

I knew it was coming (actually sent some stuff into JB a few weeks back) but went past on Saturday afternoon and noticed it was closed.

Thought I’d fill up one last time last night and when I went past saw that all the pumps had been removed and the Caltex signage taken down.

When I asked a while back I was told Caltex is not renewing the lease and I expect the suggestion that the land will be developed for units and/or shops will prove to be correct.

That story doesn’t sound right. The site by the looks of it was a private site rather than an actual Caltex operated site. So more than likely the owner saw more value in closing down and selling the land rather than continuing.

I didn’t realise the franchisee didn’t pay the lease for places, ie this Caltex, I only found out by chatting to one of the workers at GNC in Belconnen, they said the same thing, GNC did not want to renew the lease so the franchisee loses out.

With servo’s there are two ways they do it. The first is it is company owned site that they then franchise out to operators. In the past this might have been a individual but over the past 15 years or so they have gone to multi-site franchises where one operator runs more than one site. Shell at Charnwood was a ‘victim’ of this when this started to become the norm. The operators (two Italian sisters) didn’t have their lease renewed and it went to a multisite operator. This is when the workshop shut down.

The 2nd way is where the site is privately owned, like most Canberra suburban sites used to be. They then enter into a branding agreement with an oil company and are free to change when that agreement ends.

As I said looking at Lyneham it has all the hallmarks of a private site rather than a company site. The signage in particular looks private rather than company, as generally company sites have the latest signage not the basic signs as shown in the pic.

Many (many) years ago I worked after school at the Shell servo in Yarralumla. We had to check tyres, oil and clean windscreens, AND run inside to get change, cigarettes etc. I remember on a few cold winter’s nights sitting in front of the little bar heater arguing with the guy I worked with as to who’s turn it was to go out in the cold. Used to pay about $3.50 to fill up the car! Yeah, flats now.

Morgan said :

Where was the Servo in O’Connor?

On the same road as Nun bar Nuttlex, just next to the fisho, where there is now a giant block of apartments.

Where was the Servo in O’Connor?

New Yeah said :

And yeah, I miss the local bike store too. Maybe there will be some ground floor retail space in the new complex?

With any luck there will be a bike shop in the new building if there is any room left after the obligatory café.

New Yeah said :

It seems to take a few years for decommissioned servos to get built on. Wonder how soon this will be done in Lyneham.

The one in Waramanga only took a month or two to start being built on. They are now building 17 townhouses on the site (about half the size of the one in that gorgeous photo) for $378k to $440k each http://www.allhomes.com.au/ah/act/sale-residential/93-nemarang-crescent-waramanga-canberra/1316794515511

God knows how many they will try and squeeze in on this site and for what price!

I love this man’s photos. It looks like a service (gas) station from a Stephen King novel, perhaps after a portal to 1955 has somehow opened up. And I hear it was built on the site of an Indian burial ground, too, which is confusing. If a cat smelling of gasoline comes knocking, DON’T open the door. And don’t buy one of the flats.

Such a shame. It was great to leave the kids in the car and be only metres away inside paying.